Nickelodeon Orders Second Season Of 'House of Anubis'

From Entertainment Weekly, via The official House Of Anubis Twitter page (@HouseOfAnubis):

Nick orders second season of 'House of Anubis'

Think tweens aren’t into telenovelas? Think again: Nickelodeon’s wildly popular live-action drama House of Anubis has been picked up for a second season after posting impressive numbers in its first year.

The live-action show, already an established hit for Nick in Europe, averaged 1.2 million kids ages 6-11 and 1.0 million tweens ages 9-14 when it aired five nights a week during its January and February run. Talk about a hit with the Clearasil set: The show beat Glee, Pretty Little Liars, and Gossip Girl among all kids and tweens.

House of Anubis follows a group of students who uncover and solve hidden mysteries at an English boarding school, while dealing with the highs and lows of their teenage years. In season 2, the teens undertake a series of challenges to find a powerful and long-forgotten treasure.

Production on the next 45 half-hour episodes will begin July 21 in Liverpool, England — where the show was taped last season. New episodes will premiere in 2012.

According to Toys 'n' Playthings, Nickelodeon will introduce several new characters in season two of House of Anubis, including Eddie (played by Burkely Duffield), a self-styled punk bad boy from America.

It is currently unknown whether there will be a new series of the Nickelodeon UK show Anubis Unlocked, which goes behind the scenes of The House of Anubis, and is presented by Nickelodeon UK presenters Jamie Rickers and Anna Williamson.

Also, from First News, the award-winning newspaper for kids:

First News interviews Brad Kavanagh from House of Anubis

In issue 270 of First News we ran a competition to win a walk on part in series two of Nickelodeon’s House of Anubis. You've still got until 2 September to enter, so Brad Kavanagh, who plays Fabian in the show, has some words of advice!

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to be an actor or for a reader who wins the walk on part on House of Anubis?

Oh wow, that’s amazing! I think the best advice for anyone wanting to be an actor on any TV show, or any kind of acting is just to be yourself and be willing to work hard. That’s the most important thing really to work and work and work and never give up. If you really, really want to do something then you just need to be dedicated.

What things should they know about being on a set? Is it as glamorous as it seems?

It is really glamorous and fun. I love my job so much but people should also know that it is really, really hard work. Some days you film all day long and are in every scene and then you have to go home and learn all your lines for the next day. Sometimes there are 10–15 pages of lines to learn per night. So it is hard work, but it is definitely worth it.

Do you have any advice for learning lines?

Sometimes you will have two or three lines and sometimes you’ll be in every scene and have loads of lines. I really like learning my lines and I pick them up quite quickly. I’d say the best thing would be to go home, get comfortable and put your comfy socks on, or whatever it is that makes you feel relaxed, and focus. Turn off the TV and radio and just go over them. Although sometimes I think a bit of Mozart is good for learning lines!

You've just started filming series two of House of Anubis. What’s it like being back on set?

It’s so nice, it’s really great to have everyone back together again. It doesn't feel like there's been six months off in between. I know everyone always says it but we really are such good friends and we’re spread all over the world, so it's nice to get back together to film.

The second season won’t be on TV until 2012. Can you tell us a bit about what’s in store?

I don't know too much as we've just started reading the scripts, but I think there’s going to be a lot more mystery and suspense. The eight characters are still at House of Anubis and there are lots of exciting things that are coming up. I will give you a bit of a sneak peek though and tell you we have some new characters coming in, which is really exciting! We all really wanted to make sure any new people coming into the show fitted in and felt at home and I think they do. It’s like they've always been here now!

At the end of season one Fabian shared a kiss with Nina – will there be romance in season two?

I hope so. I think a lot of the fans would like to see the romance go forward, they keep telling me on Twitter. I hope they both overcome their shyness to give it a go. I won’t spoil anything but I think they’re in for some trials in their relationship!

Watch House of Anubis series 1, weekdays at 12pm and 8pm on Nickelodeon. See nick.co.uk/anubis

To enter our competition to win a walk on part in series two go to www.firstnews.co.uk/competitions

Nickelodeon UK To Launch Channel Rebrand In February 2010

From Broadcast Now:

Nickelodeon drops splat for ‘older’ identity

Nickelodeon UK is ditching its famous orange splat as part of a major global rebrand.

From Friday, the main Nickelodeon channel will have a new typographical logo, which will be rolled out to Nick Jr and NickToons in the second quarter this year, and eventually used in all territories.

The move is also designed to skew Nickelodeon’s channels slightly older and tap into the “music generation”.

Peter Drake, Nickelodeon vice-president and creative director, told Broadcast: “Kids are becoming ‘older’ younger and the splat was playing a little young. This can take the channel into a more aspirational, contemporary place.”

He batted away suggestions that the move towards global uniformity and the January departure of longstanding UK managing director Howard Litton signalled a shift away from localised content.

“Howard was very passionate about UK commissioning but the fact that he has left doesn’t mean the passion has left,” he said.

Instead, the rebrand will free up cash for more UK shortform commissions and make it easier to repurpose local productions in many different territories, Drake said.

“Until now, we have had disparate looks around the world, but this means we can share creatives a lot more easily. It removes all the barriers, so I genuinely think this will get UK work out there much more than it is now.”

Also, from Digital Spy:

Nickelodeon UK to launch channel rebrand

Nickelodeon UK has announced plans to launch a new unified on-air and off-air branding for its major channels.

The rebranding project, which starts on February 15 for the flagship Nickelodeon channel, will include a completely new network logo.

Replacing the previous 'splat' symbol, the new logo will be a "simple, bold and timeless typographical execution which retains a link with the network's heritage while giving it a more contemporary feel".

The branding will be implemented on the TV channel, along with all related online platforms, consumer products and theatricals. Sister channels Nick Jr, Nick Jr 2, NickToons and NickToons Replay will also take on the new logo and branding during the second quarter.

Following the rebranding, the entire Nickelodeon global network will carry the same logo and on-air brand identity for the first time ever.

Nickelodeon UK introduced the 'splat' in 2003 to represent "how kids felt about rules, authority and being tidy", but the new logo is designed to "work everywhere, and play well with others".

"The channel rebrand signals a new global focus for the network; and an extremely exciting time for Nickelodeon," said Nickelodeon UK vice president of creative Peter Drake.

"The look is fresh, contemporary and addresses the needs of our audiences in a more relevant way. This simple and succinct execution offers a consistent stamp of approval which allows our characters, brands and properties to shine through - and do the talking. It has a contemporary feel and effectively enables us to leverage the power of our brands globally."

Last week, Nickelodeon UK also revealed plans to revamp its flagship pre-school mini-sites under the Nick Jr's brand to offer better structure and navigation.

Nick Jr Picks Up New Stop-Frame Series 'Toby’s Toy Circus' From Start-Up Komixx

From Broadcast Now:

Nick Jr picks up £4m stop-frame series from start-up Komixx

Nick Jr has ordered a stop-frame animation thought to be worth £4m about a little boy whose toys come to life.

The 52 x 10-minute Toby’s Toy Circus is being produced by children’s newcomer Komixx Entertainment and distributed by Target Entertainment Group. It was commissioned by Nickelodeon UK vice-president and programming director Debbie MacDonald and is lined up to air in late 2010 or early 2011.

Each episode of the pre-school series will begin as seven year-old Toby goes to bed and his favourite toys spring to life. Rather than sleeping, Toby forms a circus with his toy friends in which he is the ringmaster.

Grandpa In My Pocket writers Jan Page and Mellie Buse are penning the scripts and key characters include a horse called Giddy and two acrobats who fall out with each other - but learn they are better off working together.

“There is always a life lesson,” said MacDonald. “A lot of companies are moving out of stop-frame animation and into CGI, but we love that this is done in the traditional way. It’s a very sweet preschool series.”

MacDonald will executive produce with Target director of children’s and family entertainment Oliver Ellis. Co-production financing is still being thrashed out and a producer has yet to be named.

Separately, MacDonald has ruled out taking on Howard Litton’s old role as Nickelodeon UK managing director.

The Commissioning Index

Title: Toby’s Toy Circus

Broadcaster: Nick Jr

Producer: Komixx

Commissioner: Debbie MacDonald

Executive producers: Debbie MacDonald, Oliver Ellis

Length: 52 x 10 minutes

TX: late 2010/early 2011

Nickelodeon UK To Premiere New Nicktoon 'Fanboy & Chum Chum' In February 2010

According to UK TV Guide, Nickelodeon UK will premiere Nickelodeon's brand new Nicktoon "Fanboy & Chum Chum" on Tuesday February 16th, 2010 at 9:48am.

Below is a description of Nickelodeon's brand new CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery) Nicktoon "Fanboy & Chum Chum" from UK TV Guide:

Fanboy and Chum Chum

Brand new! Meet fun's ultimate fans - the comic-book loving Fanboy and trusty sidekick Chum Chum are superfans of all things sci-fi and mysterious, with dangerously wild imaginations!

You can find out more information about Nickelodeon's brand new CGI animated show "Fanboy & Chum Chum" on Nickelodeon USA's official "Fanboy & Chum Chum" website.

Child's Play - An Interview With Nickelodeon UK's Digital Director Roy Edmonds

From Mad.co.uk:

Child's play
Source: nma.co.uk

Kids are much more savvy about new technology than many adults, says Nickelodeon digital director Roy Edmonds, so online has to be more than an extension of TV properties

When Nickelodeon's forthcoming series The Troop, about a secret society that battles monsters, begins in the UK in the next few weeks, its website will have a strong emphasis on mission-based gaming. For digital director Roy Edmonds, it's another example of how online properties should be destinations in their own right.

"We'd like to get to the point where we're involved with shows at the earliest stage and thinking about the interactivity that surrounds that," he says. "It's not about coming in at the end and saying we need to build a website, what do we need to put on it? I want to be there at the start of these programme developments."

So this year Edmond's team will be busy with 3D gaming, two-player games, augmented reality, online safety and a virtual pet project. This month sees the launch of Nick UK's first iPhone application, developed in-house to support SpongeBob Squarepants, featuring a game, short-form video and episode guides. It follows an augmented reality competition last year, created by Codegent, that asked kids to find SpongeBob cards hidden online and upload videos explaining why they were the character's biggest fan. It was part of the relaunch of the digital offering at Nickelodeon, with 2009 the 'Year of the Sponge' when SpongeBob received his own bespoke website under Edmonds' direction.

Responsible for the day-to-day business strategy, production and operation of Nickelodeon's digital division, Edmonds has spent most of his career within children's online entertainment, passing through the halls of the publicly funded BBC and the infinitely more commercial entertainment giant the Disney Corporation.

At both he learned that online content could achieve different goals, with the BBC being challenged by "an embarrassment of riches" and Disney creating content ultimately aimed at "pushing through to purchase".

Moving to Nickelodeon in 2008, Edmonds has taken up the online responsibility for characters including market-leading SpongeBob and pretenders to the throne Dora the Explorer, Diego, and Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom. This last was revamped online by digital agency Complete Control last year to feature extra functions including games and video clips. Last year also saw the launch of a blog for 10-13-year-olds called TeeNick.

These initiatives tap into Edmonds' belief that children deserve online content designed for them from the start. Some may think the entertainment of children is simply about leaving them alone with a flashing box in the corner of the room, whether that be a TV or PC. This is an antiquated way of thinking, though, says Edmonds, and in many cases, especially online, children are more adaptable and savvy than their parents.

"Anyone working within the children's entertainment industry must recognise that the way children consume media is changing," he says. "There's still a distinction between what's on the TV and what's online. The key thing to remember is that today's children have grown up with all this technology so to them it's just stuff."

This is something that worries Edmonds about many of his competitors, which often think of the online representation of a show's brand as an afterthought, or at best a direct representation of what's seen on TV. "It's interesting the different approaches broadcasters take in delivering online content," he says. "To some it's about cross-platform experiences, 360-degree commissioning. But at the other end there are those who think it's still just about supporting the programme brand. I think you need to have a mix of both approaches."

It's a point he's evangelical about and, after 18 months at Nickelodeon, he's using this year to shift the emphasis his young audience place on online content. Fundamental to this is being involved in development from the start.

This seems to be the new emphasis Edmonds brings to his department, although if you probe deeper you realise that it's children's own shift in attitude that has led to them demanding more from their online experience. "User testing is so important. It's something that since I arrived we've done more of," he says. "Kids are great fun to be around, incredibly honest and much more savvy than we give them credit for. But equally they're still children and recognising what their abilities are is important. Some things they'll fly through and others that we see as quite easy to do online they may find more challenging."

The team also looks at all feedback, whether it's through the TeeNick blogs or slightly old-school email. Such involvement, Edmonds says, must be rewarded with a sense of responsibility. "I wouldn't want to do anything that in any way would put children at risk, so everything is pre-moderated and we have an incredibly thorough process for checking content before it goes live. In that sense, safeguarding the audience is an absolute priority."

Along with this, he's focused on the task at hand: growing online share for the Nickelodeon brands in an ever-widening children's entertainment marketplace. So what else does he expect from 2010?

Edmonds indicates that the iPhone will become increasingly part of the Nickelodeon digital strategy, due to its increasing take-up among children. "The one area we're focused on at the moment is iPhone development," he says. "A lot of that's instigated by the US office and distributed to the regions via the international office, but there's still scope for us to do something in the UK. I'm keen that whatever we do, it's because it's distinctive and delivers something besides supporting a brand."

Curriculum Vitae

Name: Roy Edmonds

Title: Digital director, Nickelodeon

Age: 37

Career: 1993-97 Researcher, BBC

1997-98 Producer, Beeb.com

1998-99 Senior producer, BBC Online

1999-2001 Senior producer, BBC Entertainment

2001-06 Interactive executive editor, BBC Children's

2006-07 New media manager, Walt Disney

2007-08 Digital manager, Discovery Networks